Red Rose, White Rose

The powerful story of Cecily Neville, torn between both sides in the War of the Roses, from the critically acclaimed author of The Agincourt Bride.In fifteenth century England the Neville family rules the north with an iron fist. Ralph Neville, Earl of Westmorland, a giant of a man and a staunch Lancastrian, cunningly consolidates power by negotiating brilliant marriages for his children....

First of the Tudors

Jasper Tudor, son of Queen Catherine and her second husband, Owen Tudor, has grown up far from the intrigue of the royal court. But after he and his brother Edmund are summoned to London, their half brother, King Henry VI, takes a keen interest in their future. Bestowing earldoms on them both, Henry also gives them the wardship of the young heiress Margaret Beaufort. Although she is still a child, Jasper becomes devoted to her and is devastated when Henry arranges her betrothal to Edmund.

Winter Pilgrims: Kingmaker, Book 1

February 1460. In the bitter dawn of a winter's morning, a young man and a woman escape from a priory. In fear for their lives, they are forced to flee across a land ravaged by conflict. For this is the Wars of the Roses, one of the most savage and bloody civil wars in history. Where brother confronts brother, king faces king, and Thomas and Katherine must fight just to stay alive....

Isabella: The Warrior Queen

Whether saintly or satanic, no female leader has done more to shape our modern world, in which millions of people in two hemispheres speak Spanish and practice Catholicism. Yet history has all but forgotten Isabella's influence, due to hundreds of years of misreporting that often attributed her accomplishments to Ferdinand, the bold and philandering husband she adored.

The Secret Diary of Eleanor Cobham

England, 1441: Lady Eleanor Cobham, Duchess of Gloucester, hopes to become Queen of England before her interest in astrology and her husband's ambition leads their enemies to accuse her of a plot against the king. Eleanor is found guilty of sorcery and witchcraft. Rather than have her executed, King Henry VI orders Eleanor to be imprisoned for life.

The Lost Tudor Princess

Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox. Royal Tudor blood ran in her veins. Her mother was a Queen, her father an Earl, and she herself was the granddaughter, niece, cousin and grandmother of monarchs. Beautiful and tempestuous, she created scandal not just once but twice by falling in love with unsuitable men. Fortunately the marriage arranged for her turned into a love match.

Loyalty

Artist Hans Holbein is summoned to the house of Sir Thomas More to receive the commission of a lifetime. He will leave with a secret that could cost him his life. He will learn the truth about the life of King Richard III, the man that the Tudor dynasty has been at great pains to villify. From his return from exile with his brother, King Edward IV, to his rise to become the king's most loyal, most trusted, and most powerful subject. From his flourishing personal life to his seizure of the throne from his nephew.

My Lady Viper: Tales From the Tudor Court, Book 1

Lady Anne Seymour knows that her family hangs by a thread. If her sister-in-law Jane Seymour cannot give the King a son, she will be executed or set aside, and her family with her. Anne throws herself into the deadly and intoxicating intrigue of the Tudor court, determined to pay any price to see the new queen's marriage succeed and the Seymour family elevated to supreme power. But Anne's machinations will earn her a reputation as a viper, and she must decide if her family's rise is worth the loss of her own soul.

The Girl in the Glass Tower

Tudor England. The word treason is on everyone's lips. Arbella Stuart, niece to Mary, Queen of Scots, and presumed successor to Elizabeth I, has spent her youth behind the towering windows of Hardwick Hall. As presumed successor to the throne, her isolation should mean protection - but those close to the crown are never safe. Aemilia Lanyer, writer and poet, enjoys an independence denied to Arbella. Their paths should never cross. But when Arbella enlists Aemilia's help in a bid for freedom, she risks more than her own future.

Katherine: The classic historical romance

Katherine comes to the court of Edward III at the age of 15. The naïve convent-educated orphan of a penniless knight is dazzled by the jousts and the entertainments of court. Nevertheless, Katherine is beautiful, and she turns the head of the King's favourite son John of Gaunt. But he is married, and she is soon to be betrothed. A few years later their paths cross again and this time their passion for each other cannot be denied or suppressed.

The Queen's Choice

France, 1399: the Duke of Brittany is dead, and his widow, Joanna of Navarre, has inherited control of their land - a testament to her intellect, integrity and political prowess. Then comes an unprecedented proposal from Henry IV, King of England. The price of becoming his Queen? Abandoning her homeland, leaving her children and sacrificing her independence. Henry's hold on the crown is unsteady, and war is brewing.

The King's Concubine

One marriage. Three people. Proud king. Loving wife. Infamous mistress. 1362. Philippa of Hainault selects a young orphan from a convent. Alice Perrers, a girl born with nothing but ambition. The Queen has a role waiting for her at court. 'I have lifted you from nothing Alice. Now you repay me.' Led down the corridors of the royal palace, the young virgin is secretly delivered to King Edward III - to perform the wifely duties of which ailing Philippa is no longer capable. Power has a price, and Alice Perrers will pay it.

The Plantagenet Prelude

When William X dies, the duchy of Aquitaine is left to his 15-year-old daughter, Eleanor. But such a position for an unmarried woman puts the whole kingdom at risk. So on his deathbed William made a will that would ensure his daughter's protection: he promised her hand in marriage to the future King of France. Eleanor grows into a romantic and beautiful queen, but she has inherited the will of a king, determined to rule Aquitaine using her husband's power as King of France. Her

The King's Mistress

'When had I a choice to be other than I was?' From childhood Alice Salisbury has learnt obedience in all things and at fourteen dutifully marries the man her father has chosen for her - at the cost of losing the love of her mother forever and the family she holds dear.

The Queen's Governess

"I could not fathom they were going to kill the queen. Nor could I bear to witness Anne Boleyn's beheading...." As a favour to a doomed queen, Kat Ashley agrees to become governess and confidante to the young Elizabeth Tudor. Together they suffer bitter exile, assassination attempts, and imprisonment, barely escaping with their reputations and their lives intact. But when Elizabeth is eventually crowned, Kat continues to serve her, faithfully guarding all of the queen's secrets, even the one that could bring down the monarchy....

The Vatican Princess: A Novel of Lucrezia Borgia

Glamorous and predatory, the Borgias fascinated and terrorized 15th-century Renaissance Italy, and Lucrezia Borgia, beloved daughter of the pope, was at the center of the dynasty's ambitions. Slandered as a heartless seductress who lured men to their doom, was she in fact the villainess of legend, or was she trapped in a familial web, forced to choose between loyalty and survival?

The Handfasted Wife: Daughters of Hastings, Book 1

The Handfasted Wife is the story of the Norman Conquest from the perspective of Edith (Elditha) Swanneck, Harold's common-law wife. She is set aside for a political marriage when Harold becomes king in 1066. Determined to protect her children's destinies and control her economic future, she is taken to William's camp when her estate is sacked on the eve of the Battle of Hastings. She later identifies Harold's body on the battlefield, and her youngest son becomes a Norman hostage.

The Strangest Family: The Private Lives of George III, Queen Charlotte and the Hanoverians

An intensely moving account of George III's doomed attempt to create a happy, harmonious family, written with astonishing emotional force from a stunning new history writer. George III came to the throne in 1760 as a man with a mission. He wanted to be a new kind of king, one whose power was rooted in the affection and approval of his people. And he was determined to revolutionise his private life too - to show that a better man would, inevitably, make a better ruler.

Publisher's Summary

Set in Malory's England during the Wars of the Roses, this acclaimed winner of a remarkable nine awards tells the true story of two star-crossed lovers - Richard of Gloucester and Lady Anne Neville - before they become King and Queen of England. A stirring tale of romance and intrigue.

I read the three volumes in this trilogy (or rather, listened to them) back to back and I am writing this little review after finishing all three-- and that's because this trilogy is a "could not put down" listen. I have read many historical novels set in the period of the so-called "Cousins' Wars" (AKA the Wars of the Roses) and before I began this trilogy I really doubted that anyone, and perhaps particularly a writer of historical fiction, could shed any new light on the events of this time. But Sandra Worth succeeds there, and also weaves a spell around these historical characters which makes all seem new again. As a passionate lover of historical fiction, I can recommend this entire trilogy as a great read !

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

T. Arcangel

Honolulu

23/05/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Excellent Narration, Flowery Story"

Where does The Rose of York rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I enjoyed the book very much. I have been interested in Richard III since his grave was discovered in 2014. Although I suspect the portrayal of Richard III may be far too soft and flowery, the book is entertaining and I will read another on the same topic.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Rose of York?

The death of Galahad in the stormy sea.

Which character – as performed by Robin Sachs – was your favorite?

John Neville, 1st Marquess of Montagu

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was touched by John Neville's letter to his wife, written just before he died. It made me think of warriors, of any culture, having tender feelings for the women who wait for them to return.

Any additional comments?

I don't know if Richard III was as saintly as the character Sandra Worth has created in this book. Maybe he was! Or, maybe the real Richard was more like the villain portrayed by Shakespeare and other writers. At this point in time, it is unlikely we will ever know. <br/>I am an American with just a light knowledge of the history of England. When I read books like those in the Rose of York series, I always find myself Googling the characters to learn more. I did find it very interesting to look up characters such as the Nevilles, the Warwicks, etc.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Kristi Richardson

Milwaukie, OR, United States

30/12/13

Overall

Performance

Story

"Anne Neville and Richard III's love story."

What made the experience of listening to The Rose of York the most enjoyable?

I like a different version of the evil Richard III than Shakespeare.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the story about Anne and Richard but the middle of the story gets bogged down with Edward and Elizabeth Woodville.

What does Robin Sachs bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Anyone reading the book for me lets me do my housework while listening.

Who was the most memorable character of The Rose of York and why?

Richard III because his story is so different from the evil version of Shakespeare's. I love learning about his devotion to Anne and his brother the King. I also thought the part about Warwick's brother and his wife was quite interesting.

Any additional comments?

I will probably read more of the books by Ms. Worth, but am not really sure.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Benoibe

New Orleans, LA, United States

29/04/13

Overall

Performance

Story

"Skip this!! Read Kingmaker's Daughter instead!"

I thought the book had good points, but it was very disappointing. I have read many books on the subject of Richard III, nonfiction and fiction. This is my least favorite. The total vilification and spurious attacks on the Woodville family was shocking.

This is a fairytale version of the story. It's not good historical fiction!! In fact, I would recommend reading books 1 and 4 of Phillipa Gregory's Cousins War series before touching this. I'm not a fan of PG, but her work on Ann Neville and Elizabeth Woodville is far more touching and well-researched than this book.

Read Kingmakers Daughter, then The White Queen. Anne Easter Smith's story of Richard III is also very good and available on Audible. Also The Seventh Son.

Great narrator!!

5 of 9 people found this review helpful

M. Ward

Texas

25/05/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Enjoyable"

With nearly each novel, I have to get used to the narrator. With this one, I was iffy at first, but then found that I liked his deep, gravelly voice. I enjoyed the story and the writing and am moving on to Book Two.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

D P Stanley

06/09/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Performance terrible. Could not continue."

How could the performance have been better?

The performance was stilted and had no rhythm. The sound seemed muffled. I can't comment on any areas as after 1 hour I could not continue.<br/>Very disappointed. What a waste of money.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Sandra

Westlake, La, United States

22/05/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Fabulous, riveting, hard to put down."

Sandra Worth is such a wonderful writer and Robin Sachs is amazing. I highly recommend her books.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Barbara

POTTSTOWN, PA, United States

14/01/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Not my favorite"

I love historical fiction, but found this book a little far fetched. I thought the narration was flat but intend to give it another listen. I found my mind wandering a lot while listening.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Stacey Wallace

Manchester, NH, United States

12/07/13

Overall

Performance

Story

"I enjoyed this one"

I used last months two credits for this book and The Iron King series book 1, I liked this one far more than the other. I am a huge history fan and like to mix it up with some fiction every once in a while. The whole point of fiction is that it can be anything. This made me look at Richard in a different light and I like that it has made me rethink my opinions. I like being able to see other peoples views and this book let me do this in a way. The story was smooth and narration was really well done. I am ordering the other two this month and will post a review more in depth once I have completed the series. If you are the type who wants all the history straight and 100% this is not for you. This is a book that fills in the gaps that history cannot tell us with one possible story. It is well written in my opinion.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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